A Cool, Dry Place

PG-13

Released Apr 3, 1996

1 hr. 37 min.

Drama

List

54%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

59%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Kansas lawyer Russell Durrell (Vince Vaughn) is married to his soul mate, Kate (Monica Potter), but when she walks out on him unexpectedly, his world is turned awry. Left on his own to raise his small son, Calvin (Bobby Moat), Russell strives to find a balance between career and parenthood. Romance blooms when he meets assistant veterinarian Beth Ward (Joey Lauren Adams), but when Kate returns looking to resume her motherly and wifely duties, Russell is left with an impossible decision.

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Audience Member

We all need a cool, dry place in our lives to start over Vince Vaughn, Monica Potter, and Joey Lauren Adams A single father Russell is looking for a new job Then out of the blue his wife Kate decides she's not happy anymore and divorces him A new woman Beth enters his life starting a new romance But when his ex returns things get tricky Beth doesn't want to get in the middle of anything messy Russell wants to start over and only raise his son never wanting the emotional scarring his mom left when she bailed It's almost impossible to be a dad but it's worth it just for your child's love and affection All these actors are really good and you get a sense of where they come from This is one of Vaughn's best acting The melodrama is a bit trite but you expect certain things to come out of a tricky spot these people are in that offers enough food for thought on single parenting and bonds of fathers and sons A decent honest human drama from everyone

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/07/23

Full Review

amy a

I'm shocked people aren't amazed at the child actor. Most kids over-act, and it's very annoying. This kid was phenomenal. It's refreshing when a movie has no car chase scenes, explosions, and no one getting shot. Just real life.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

camille l

Dans A Cool Dry Place, on parle avec chaleur humaine d'un père célibataire et de ses difficultés à élever son gamin seul. On lui met dans les pattes une jolie fille et son ex-femme. Dans A Cool Dry Place, il n'y a rien d'original, aucune idée de mise en scène, aucune qualité qui rendrait le film indispensable ou même sympathique deux heures durant. En revanche, il n'y a aucun énorme défaut et l'interprétation de Vince Vaughn est parfaite. Il en reste qu'on s'ennuie ferme en attendant la fin avec impatience. Dommage, car l'idée de Vaughn en coach de basket était très bonne. C'est bien la seule.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

First found Vince Vaughn to be so appealing in the movie. He conveys every emotion in this single father drama. One of my favorites.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not my favourite film as it lacked a strong story line it was a bit too etchy! A shame really

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I thought this movie was good however I am a Vince Vaughn fan and I know some are not. To see a comedian do drama isn't always a good thing but in this case I liked it. This is just a good watch it may not end up as your favorite movie but a good one none the less.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

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John N. Smith

Director

Vince Vaughn

Russell Durrell

Joey Lauren Adams

Beth Ward

Monica Potter

Kate Durrell

Bobby Moat

Calvin Durrell

Devon Sawa

Noah Ward

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Lael Loewenstein

Variety

The kind of plodding, conventional fare usually reserved for TV movies.

Oct 4, 2009

Full Review

Tim Cogshell

Boxoffice Magazine

The film devolves into trite melodrama. But on the strength of several good performances, the authenticity of emotion remains intact.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 5, 2002

Full Review

Sandra Contreras

TV Guide

Its heart is in the right place, but this sweet drama just doesn't build enough true drama from its slender premise. That said, it's not bad enough to merit the kind of stealth release its studio has imposed on it.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 4, 2009

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 16, 2005

Full Review

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Rated: 3/5

Jan 8, 2005

Full Review

Dragan Antulov

rec.arts.movies.reviews

Could have been much better with slightly tighter pacing and with less drowning in sentimentalism.

Rated: 5/10

Sep 8, 2004

Full Review

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Synopsis

Kansas lawyer Russell Durrell (Vince Vaughn) is married to his soul mate, Kate (Monica Potter), but when she walks out on him unexpectedly, his world is turned awry. Left on his own to raise his small son, Calvin (Bobby Moat), Russell strives to find a balance between career and parenthood. Romance blooms when he meets assistant veterinarian Beth Ward (Joey Lauren Adams), but when Kate returns looking to resume her motherly and wifely duties, Russell is left with an impossible decision.

Director: John N. Smith
Screenwriter: Michael Grant Jaffe, Matthew McDuffie
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Fox 2000 Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 3, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2011
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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